The authors discuss the incidence of perforation related to endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography, which is relatively uncommon (0.3-1%) among other types of complications. Perforations can be classified into three types based on their forms and locations. Having reviewed the literature the authors conclude that the most common type is periampullary perforation and the less frequent one is peritoneal perforation. The former usually heals after conservative treatment, while the latter needs an operation. The authors emphasize the important prognostic role of timely diagnosis and surgical treatment if alarming signs (peritoneal, septic) are present. Known predisposing factors, when the procedure needs more careful attention, are also summarized (postoperative status, needle knife papillectomy, intramural contrast media, long lasting examination). After reviewing their own cases, the authors establish that the incidence of perforation in their own centre was four per thousand (10/2400), out of which nine were periampullar and one peritoneal type. In 6 cases operation was necessary, and there was no mortality. The authors conclude that individually tailored therapy can largely reduce the 30-40% mortality rate reported in earlier studies.
The postoperative complications of the biliary tract, such as leakages and strictures, traditionally had been managed surgically, but from the 90s they are usually treated via endoscopic route. These complications occur most frequently after laparoscopic surgeries. Whenever biliary leakage is suspected, close collaboration between endoscopists and surgeons is needed. Immediate visualization of the biliary tract by ERCP is mandatory to confirm the diagnosis and to locate the exact site of the lesion. Various endoscopic techniques have been proved effective in treating post-cholecystectomy biliary leaks. The crucial point is to equalize the duodenal and the biliary pressures, allowing flow of the bile into the duodenum, advancing the healing of the lesion. This can be achieved with a simple endoscopic sphincterotomy or endoscopic sphincterotomy with subsequent insertion of a plastic stent. These methods seem to be equally suitable; however, for greater lesions stent placement is advisable. For strictures multiple stenting is the effective method, and the long standing effects also seem to be good.
These results underline the importance of team work that involves the cooperation of a gastroenterologist, a surgeon and an anaesthesiologist in the indication, organisation and implementation of the intervention.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.